A light rail transit system will soon connect Noida International Airport with Film City along the Yamuna Expressway, integrated with the upcoming RRTS route. The decision was made during a Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) board meeting, following a presentation by NCR Transport Corporation about the 72 km rapid rail route planned between the airport and Ghaziabad. The proposal for light rail linking the airport and Film City has been sent to the Centre for approval.
Initially, the 14 km route was intended to be served by pod taxis, with a tender for 12 stations issued in 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs 641.5 crore. However, no companies submitted bids, leading to a feasibility review comparing pod taxis with light rail. With the UP government approving the 72 km RRTS corridor between Ghaziabad and the airport, the NCRTC recommended including either pod taxis or light rail in the project. Metro trains will also operate on the same tracks.
The plan now includes three services—metro, RRTS, and light rail—sharing the same tracks, with loop sections differentiating them. Metro trains will run every 3.5 minutes, rapid rail every 7 minutes, and light rail every 8 minutes. The UP government has approved the plan, and it has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for final clearance.
The original RRTS corridor, initially planned in two phases (Ghaziabad to Ecotech VI and Ecotech VI to Jewar), will now be developed as a single unified project. Each service serves a unique purpose: rapid rail for long-distance travelers heading to the airport, metro for regular commuters with more frequent stops, and light rail for sectors along the Yamuna Expressway.
The 72 km project is expected to be completed by 2031. The Centre and state governments will contribute 40% of the funding, with the remainder raised by development authorities in Greater Noida, Yamuna Expressway, and Ghaziabad. The NCRTC has been tasked with securing 60% of the funds, with no further local contributions required if successful.
In addition, a 10 km corridor will link Aqua Line’s Sector 51 station with the RRTS corridor at Knowledge Park V. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco) has also assured YEIDA of a loan of over Rs 30,000 crore for connectivity projects, alongside Rs 3,300 crore for land acquisition.
